Nov 30 2010
Wind turbine producer Suzlon Energy’s unit REpower Systems has announced that the company has inked a deal with Belgian company, C-Power, for the shipment of 48 win turbines with a total rated capacity of 295 MW. These wind turbines will be used in the phases 2 and 3 of Thornton Bank, the first offshore wind project in Belgium.
REpower said that the phase 2 construction, which involves the installation of 24 turbines is scheduled for 2012 and the remaining wind turbines would be used in the phase 3 of the project by the mid of 2013. The company did not disclose the order value. The Thornton Bank project has involvements from firms based in Denmark, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany.
The European Investment Bank along with a group of seven commercial banks will fund about €900 million for the two phases. The total investment, which includes the phase 1 project refinancing, totaled up to nearly €1.3 billion.
Repower supplied and installed six REpower 5M-type wind turbines for the phase 1 of the Thornton Bank project in 2008. The wind farm is situated about 28 km off along the Belgian coast in the depth of water ranging between 12 m to 27 m. The wind farm was formally put into operation during the last of June of past year.
The supply agreement for phases 2 and 3 of the project includes the manufacturing and supply of the blades, nacelles, towers and hubs, and the pre-installation of the wind turbines in the port of Oostende. Moreover, the company is accountable for commissioning, installation and testing of the turbines.